Fireproof window construction.



W. J. LARKIN. FIRBPROOF WINDOW CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1909.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

in"; 3'. LARKIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIREPEOOF WINDOW CONSTRUCTION.

Specification ot- Letters Patent.

Application filed may 17, 1909. Serial No. 496,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J.- Lamina,

a citizen the United States, residing at Chlcago, 1n the-county of Cookand Stateof Ill1nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Window Construction, of which the following is a specification; 7

My invention relates to improvements infire-proof window construction, by which I mean the construction of glazed light-ad mittin openings for'the purpose of providing efli cient fire retardation.

Thesahent object' of my invention is to provide a structure having a high heat resist-ing efiiciency in virtue of its mechanical construction and arrangement and yet which is mechanically advantageous in simplicity andlone of the objects of my invention is to provide an 'im roved structure of this type which will a ord effective joints at such points.- 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel glass osltioning construction, and still otherob ects will hereinafter become. apparent.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 1s a front elevation from the exterior of a casement window in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through one of the sashes with the parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through fragments of the two sashes; and Fig, 4 is a perspective detail of the munt-in structure appropriate to the embodiment of my invention.

,In the drawings, 5 indicates a frame, preferably of sheet metal formation, surroundin the closable opening, said frame comprising the head 6 and jsill 7 of approved construction and hollow sheet metal jambs 8, internalllfi reinforcedby angle bars 9 along term their exterior, inner corwhat I w Patented; Feb; 22, 1910.-

-ners+using exterior with reference to the building, and inner with reference. to the planar center of the frame. The inner faces 8 of the jamb have formed therein vertical grooves 10, which preferably fall immediately in rear of or mteriorly from the reinforcing angles 9; but otherwise the framemay, all be of. approved construction. Hinged to-the ambs'-.8'by suitable hin es '11 are the two coactinrgcasements or sas 18S 12, 12, which are structurally similar, each preferabl having top and bottom rails 13 and 14 o identical construction interfittin accuratel with the corresponding head and sill each of said parts being of approved sheet metal construction, and providing a glass recess 15 of customary depth.

The outer or. hinging siderail 16 of each 1 sash is formedjof sheet metal to'provide on its inner edge a deep lass recess 17, about double the normal dept of a glass recess 15, and is likewise internally provided with an angular reinforcing strip 18 along ts exterio'r, outer edge to mceive and afiord support'to the appropriate element ofthe hinges 11. Each such rail 16 is likewise provided at its interior, outer corner with an outwardly extending flange 19 adaptedto inter-fit in the recess 10 in the frame amb.

The inner or meeting rails 20 of v the window are of sheet metal provided with glass grooves 15' of ordinary depth. The

adjoining edges of the meeting rails are formed each to provide a groove 22 wholly between its exterior and interior edges and a projection 23 arranged to interfit' into the groove 22 of the opposite rail, the two rails being of similar but opposite construction, each providing a one edge forming one boundary of the recess 22, and a wall 25 forming a shoulder connecting the recess 22 23, said wall extending obhguely acrossthe median line of the joint, an an edge recess 26 adjoining the projection23. The fin 24 and projection distance beyond the median line of the omt and the groove 22 and recess 26 .termmate at about the same distance short. of such line. Thus the two rails make an S-shaped double wall or fin 2a along and the projection 23 extend about the same essarily so, and with the middle course-of the joint which traverses the median line thereot'intermediate the exterior and interior edges of the sashes, arranged at an angle such t a h ap of he dj i ing age from their recesses without binding uring the outward-swing of the sashes.

' lVhere the structure is a glazed window, the glazing material is preferably wireglass, divided into a plurality of panes with the divisions running at right angles to the deep glass receiving grooves 17 of the sashes and the glass divisions being separated by muntins. Thus in the construction illustrated, 30, 30', and 30 are vertically separated panes of wire-glass, the lines of separation being at right angles to the vertical deep grooves 17. These panes are separated by the sheet metal muntins, 31, each comprising a female member'32 and a male member 33. The female member is a folded strip of metal providing a planar face 34 having a longitudinal opening 35 extending its. full length and exposing at intervals nuts 36' arranged within the tubular structure. The male member is of similar construetion save that it provides parallel flanges or webs 37 extending outward from the edges of its longitudinal opening 35', said webs being recessed as at 38 to straddle the nut 36 and provided with bolts 39 for engaging such nuts 36.

For holding the glass. in' place against displacement in deep groove 17, I provide a U-shaped'retaining or locking strip 40 extending lengthwise in the groove 17 and inserted therein through an aperture 41 in the upper rail of the sash. v a

In glazing the window, the male members of the muntins are all removed and then, as

will be apparent, the lower glass pane may be inserted into the sash by lifting the pane entirely above the bottom rail 14, sliding it laterally into the deep groove 17 and then back into'th'e shallower normal groove 15,

. and then dropping it down into the bottom groove 15. This operation may be repeated withre'spect to the several panes and then the panes may be appropriately separated to bring the uppermost pane into its normal groove 15 on the upper rail, and separation of the panes is maintained. by the insertion of the web=37 of the male muntinmember between the adjoining panes of glass. WVhen the parts are thus assembled, the lock strip 40 may be inserted into the deep recesses 17 and thereby all parts of the glass structure safely secured.

It will be observed that the construction described provides a closure for the window orifice providing two oppositely hinged sashes but wherein every vertical/joint is broken, the tongues 19 engaging in the grooves 10 at the interior, outer corners of the sashes forming a broken joint which will prevent ready passage of flame, and the inter-engaging tongues andgrooves m the meeting rails providing an S-shaped oint for a similar purpose, yet neither of these claims.

ment of the sashes without interference.

joints interfering in any way with the swinging of the'casings on their hinges 11, though they make the structure remarkably strong to resist direct outward pressure. It will also be observed that the structure rovides a glazing arrangement inwhich t e glass when in place is held against displacement in any direction toopen through passage to flame and yet upon removal of the muntin and the spacing strip 40 any or all of the glass panes may be removed.

While I have herein described in some detail a particular embodiment of mysin've n tion, it. will be apparent that variations might be made in the structural details without departure from the spirit of my invention and within-the scope of the appended What I claim is: 4 A

1. The combination with a frame for an opening, of'a closure therefor, comprising two sashes hinged at their opposite edges to swing in the same direction in opening and at their meeting edges provided each with'a projection and a groove wholly between the exterior and interior surfaces of ing arranged for inter engagement when closed and arranged to permit h nging mo 2. The combination with a frame for an opening, of a closure therefor comprising two sashes hinged at their opposite edges, effecting an S-shaped joint when closed.

3. In a hinged closure for an opening, two opposite sashes hinged at their opposite edges, and providing meeting rails ofsimilar' configuration but oppositely disposed,

each rail providing on its edge a lip 24, a

recess 22, an obliquely disposed shoulder 25, a projection 23, and a recess 26 in successive order, for effecting an S-shaped joint when the sashes are closed and permitting the hinging movement of said sashes without interference.

4. A fire-proof closure comprising an open frame having vertical recesses 10 in its jambs, sashes 12 hinged to said jambs for movement in the same direction, each said sash providing a projecting fin 19 for enga-gement in the recess in the jamb, and inter-engaging tongues and grooves upon the meeting edges of the sashes, arranged when the sashes are closed to afford an S-shaped joint.

5. In a fire-proof window, a sash provided with a glass receiving recess throughout its entire perimeter, one of said vertical recesses being of abnormal depth to permit the insertion of glass therein to clear the opposite edge of the sash; panes of glass separated l upon horizontal lines removable muntinst';

for interposition between the panes of glass proportioned to maintain the separate panes in separated relation, holding the vertically opposite edges of the extreme panes in'en- 130 the closure, said grooves and projections be gagement with the glass receiving recesses in the horizontal rails; and a locking strip in the deep vertical recess.

6, In a fire-proof window structure, a sheet metal sash having glass receiving recesses in opposite rails, one of said recesses cesses, the glass receiving recesses along one rail being of approximately double the depth of the recesses in the other rail; a plurality of panes of glass, separated on lines at right angles to the deeper recessed rail, and in their conjoint measurement parallel to the deeply recessed rail not exceeding the length of the clear opening of the sash and one normal glass recess; a detachable muntin for insertion between the glass panes to separate the latter, proportioned to space the panes apart to bring the extreme panes at opposite edges into engagement with the opposing glass recesses of normal depth; and a locking strip *0 removably inserted in the deeper glass recess. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LARKIN.

In the presence of W. LINN ALLEN, MARY F. ALLEN. 

